Nigerian League boss warns governors against diversion of club funds for elections

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The League Management Company, LMC, has urged state governments not to starve Premier League clubs of needed funds as they prepare for the 2014/15 football league season scheduled to kick off March 7.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES in Abuja, the Chairman of the league body, Nduka Irabor, said funding for the clubs should not be used for election campaigns and other political activities.

“The feelers that I am getting right now is that officials are neck-deep into campaigning, please if you are serious about professional football all these proprietors who happen to be the State Governments should make out time and give the clubs money they need to prepare,” Mr. Irabor said.

“We know the peculiar environment we operate in, we do not have the best infrastructure and we do not have the best funding system for our clubs but we do hope those who own these clubs live up to their responsibility and make funds available to the clubs,” he added.

Speaking about the clubs that will represent Nigeria in continental tournaments, Mr. Irabor said the LMC is confident the teams will do well.

He also charged the clubs to work hard on attracting fans to the stadium as this remains a big revenue option.
“We are talking to the club managers, it is their business, it is their business to earn money to begin to understand the business side, how it affects them.

Hopefully they will add that point… its beyond game, its entertainment, it ought to be a full entertainment package hopefully they will get it right and begin to add all those elements that makes a full entertainment package.

“But infrastructure doesn’t support providing good entertainment. Abuja stadium is for the elites but how many other venues do we have like this, we need to begin to redesign our infrastructure to suite modern day footballing and entertainment purpose,” he said.

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